Romania’s government has easily survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote, three days after mass protests forced it to ditch a controversial corruption decree.

161 lawmakers supported the motion, falling well short of the 233 votes, or 50 percent needed.

Romania’s ruling three party coalition abstained.

Ahead of the no confidence vote, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said he hoped that the government could now ‘‘get back to work.’‘ following its embarrasing U-turn.

“We now have a budget that will bring prosperity and development to Romanians. We have all the necessary means to implement the governing programme that Romanians voted for with a substantial majority in December,” Grindeanu said.

Despite the decree being scrapped protest rallies in Bucharest have continued – though numbers have dwindled.

Demonstrators say the government has shown it cannot be trusted.

If implemented the controversial law would have decriminalised several corruption offences and shielded dozens of officials from prosecution.